Partition fabricating machine



June 27, 1.939. l D, R VA|| Er AL 2,163,923

PARTITION FAVBR ICATING MACHINE Filed Feb. ll, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2ATTORNEYS June 27, 1939. D, R VML Er 2,163,923

PARTITION FABRICATING MACHINE Filed Feb. v1l, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR ,Y 92990325:

ATTORNEYS Patented June 21, 19394 UNiTED STATES PATENT oFFlcE PARTITIONFABRICATING MACHINE Daniel Railing Vail, Wilmette, Ill., and Charles `G.Dauber, Oshkosh, Wis.

Application February 11, 1938, Serial No. 189,964

9 Claims.

A `general object of the invention is to provide a machine which willautomatically and expeditiously slot and cut carton partitions from anl0 endless sheet of paper board material, and thereafter automaticallyassemble one set of partitions, .as they are being formed, with anotherset of preformed partitions.

.Afurther object of the invention is to provide a partition fabricatingmachine which can be adjusted or selectively regulated Aso as to producepartition strips of any desired length and height, and with vslots of adesired depth and spacing arrangement.

A further object of the invention-is to provde a partition fabricatingmachine which continu ously forms one set of cut and slotted partitionsand successively feeds said partitions into position for assembly whilepartitions of another and previously formed set are being'fed into 'themachine in verticaldisposition. to be engaged and 4assel'nbled with thefirst mentioned partitions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a partition fabricatingmachine of the class described .having interchangeable punches wherebythe machine may operate to advantage on different `types of paper boardmaterial, including corrugated board, and whereby slots of differentdepths or lengths may be formed in the stock. A further object of theinvention is to provide, in a partition fabricating 'machine means forfeeding and advancing the partition material vwith a minimum of crushingto the material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a` machine of thecharacter described which can operate to slot and sever strips ofpartition material, or which can operate on continuous or intermittentlyfed sheets of said material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a `machine of the classdescribed which can be operated to only slot and sever partition formingmaterial, or which can, in addition, assemble partitions thus formedwith other formed partitions.`

la carton partition fabricating machine which is susceptible of beingused advantageously for single or multiple operations, which isautomatic and expeditious in its operation, which is strong 'A furtherobject of the invention is to provide and durable, and which is welladapted for the purposes set forth.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of theimproved partition fabricating machine, and its parts and combina- 5tions as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference charactersindicate the same parts in all of the views: i0

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved partition fabricatingmachine showing the front and one side thereof;

Fig. 2 is another perspective view of the ma chine as viewed from thefront and the other side Il thereof; l

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the machine Fig. 4is a horizontalsectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a partition strip as formed by the machine;

Fig. 6 is a detail view of a partition strip o! the type fed into themachine for assembly with the strips being formed therein of the typeshown g5 'in Fig. 5;

Fig. 'l is a detail sectional view of the clutch and control mechanismtaken on line 1 1 of Fig. 3 only with the clutch engaged and. themechanism driving;

Fig.` 8 is a sectional view taken online l-l o! Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 8--9 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 9 only 35 showing positionsof the mechanism when the clutch is disengaged for idling;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary side view, partly in section, of the forwardtable portion of the machine showing the means for feeding thereinto 40one class of formed partitions for assembly with the other class ofpartitions being formed and positioned by themachine;

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the showing in Fig. 11; and 45 Figs. 13 and 14are fragmentary, detail Sectional views showing a form of replaceablepunch and die for use in the machine for the slotting 0f corrugatedboard partitions.

Referring now more particularly to the draw- 50 ings, it will appearthat the improved carton par tition fabricating machine includes a'box-like base or casing 2D having mounted therein and thereon many ofthe working parts oi' the machine. The lower portion of the base alsosup- 5s ports suitable bearing brackets 2| in which is journaled a maindrive shaft 22 of the machine. One end portion of said shaft has fastthereon a pulley wheel 23 whereby said shaft receives its motion fromany suitable'source of power (not shown). Also fast on said drive shaft22 is a small gear 24 meshing with a larger gear 25 on anothertransverse shaft 26, and releasably engageable therewith by clutch meanslater to be described, whereby said shaft 26, when engaged, is driven ata reduced rate of speed. In addition to other mechanisms operated fromthe shaft 26,

said shaft serves to reciprocate a punch head 21 vertically. For thispurpose outer portions of the shaft 26 have fast thereon eccentrics orcams 28. Each of said cams turns eccentricallywithin a strap or framemember 29, and turning movements of said cams therewithin serve to raiseand lower the members 29 which have secured thereto the lower ends ofreciprocating rods 30. The upper ends of said rods are attached toopposite sides of the punch head 21, and the punch head is guided in itsvertical reciprocations by guide posts 3|.

Mounted on the rear upper portion of the casing is a table 32 Whose topface, at its opposite side portions, is arranged with the guide posts 3|previously mentioned. Hence the punch head extends above the top of saidtable and is adapted to move vertically with respect thereto.4 The topof said table has incorporated therein cutting dies 33 of considerablygreater length than that of any punches to be used therewith. Aplurality of punches, designated by the numerals 34, are removablydepended from the punch head 21, and the length of each punchcorresponds with the length of the slots to be cut in the paper boardmaterial being fed into the machine.

An extent of paper board material is indicated by the numeral 35, and itwill be noted that just prior to severance into strips it is engagedbetween feed rollers 36 which operate to advance the material 35 fromthe source. Said material also extends over an adjustable apron 31 andis disposed in a flat, taut condition over the top of the table 32 andover the dies 33. The material 35 may be in suitable sized strips orsheets fed into the machine via a supporting surface 38, or it may beextended into the machine over said surface in continuous, unbrokencondition from any source, as a roll.

Referring again to the punches 34 it should be observed thatinterchangeable punches are utilized and one set may be removed from thehead and be replaced by longer or shorter punches, depending on thelength of slots desired in the partitions. Due to the oversized dies thelatter need not be changed when the punches are changed. Said punches,as well as the dies, are formed with enlarged ends 39 which serve to cutenlarged V-shaped ends in the slots in the stock which are of advantageduring connection of one set of partitions with another set, followingseverance.

In Figs. 13 and 14 there is illustrated a modlilcation in the form ofpunch 34 and die 33 especially advantageous when the sheet materialbeing operated on is corrugated board 35. In die cutting corrugatedboard care must be taken to not damage any substantial area of the boardby crushing the corrugations and by cracking. In the arrangement ofFigs. 13 and 14, this 0bjection is obviated due to the local built-upportions of the dies and the specific shape of the dies and punches sothat crushing takes place in very limited areas which can, by thecorrugations, again ex and expand after the operations.

In connection With work on crushable sheet material such as corrugatedboard, it is to be further noted that such material is delicatelyhandled by the present machine wherein it will be observed that the feedrollers 36 are resilient, having an exterior jacket of yielding rubberor the like, as at 40.

Suitably movably mounted in the forward portion of the machine is astrip severing knife 4|. In setting up the machine for a givenoperation, in addition to the speed and synchrony of operation of thevarious mechanisms, in order to assure correct widths of strips andcorrect disposition of the rows of slots therein, it is desirable toadjust'the sheet distance as between the knife 4| and the punches 34.Main adjustments are accomplished by moving the table 32 fore or af t,this being done by releasing securing nuts 42 whereby the heads ofattaching bolts 43 are free to slide longitudinally in T-slots 44. Forminor and more accurate adjustments, the apron 31 may be flexed upwardlyor downwardly a desired distance, this being accomplished by screwingupwardly or downwardly a supporting screw 45 turnable`l by a hand wheel46.

The feed rollers 36 have their reduced end portions rotatably journaledin adjustable bearing blocks 48 at the forward end of the machine. Theproximity of the outermost roller to the surface of its companion rollermay be adjusted or varied by screw members 41 engaging the ends of saidoutermost roller and extended through the bearing blocks.

The means for positively driving one of the feed rollers is shown mostclearly in Fig. 1 wherein it will appear that the innermost feed rollerhas one end extended beyond its bearing block and carries loose thereona pinion 49 which meshes with the teeth of a rack bar 50. The lower endof the rack bar is pivotally mounted on a crank pin 5| which isadjustable in the slot of a guide block 52 secured to a face of one ofthe cams 28. Hence the driven feed roller receives its power from theshaft 26, and by adjusting the pin 5| longitudinally in the block 52,the amount of thrust or length of movement of the rack bar can be variedand controlled. It is essential that the feed rollers be intermittentlyturned in only one direction. The pinion 49, which is loose on the endof its feed roller, has secured thereto an inwardly extending collar 53also loose on the roller. Said collar has a radial arm 54, to the outerend of which is pivotally mounted a pawl 55 adapted, when the arm 54turns in one direction, to engage a tooth in a toothed wheel 56 fast onsaid roller, to turn said roller a suitable distance in one direction,this being accomplished while the rack bar is moving upwardly. When therack bar moves in the reverse direction, the pinion 49 and collar 53turn freely on the roller end in the reverse direction and the pawl 55slips over the teeth of the wheel 56 to a position where it takes a newbite when the rack bar is ready to advance. The pawl is yieldingly heldin tooth engaging position by a band spring 51. Retrograde movement ofsaid driven roller is prevented by a fraction brake 58 mounted on theopposite end portion of said roller. Said end portion of said rolleralso carries fast thereon a gear which meshes with a gear 59 on theforward roller,

whereby the forward roller is also positively, intermittently turned inone direction.

A knife frame, for holding the transversely extending knife 4I, isindicated by the numeral 68. Said frame is reciprocally mounted at anangle at the forward portion of the casing 28, to slide on guide posts6|. The knife frame is reciprocated in synchrony with the'othermechanisms of the machine and receives its power from the transverseshaft 26. It will be observed from the drawings that the lower portionof the casing 20 has journaled therein a forward, transverse shaft 62.This latter shaft is rocked through a crank 63 fast thereon which iscon- The platform is held in a desired position of.

vertical adjustment by a screw 12 threaded into a base support 13 andengaging an under flange 14 on said platform. 0n said platform 69 thereare a plurality of spaced-apart slotted strips 15.

Against the side of each strip there is mounted in vertical position apartition supporting panel 16 (omitted in some of the Views). Sets ofpreformed longitudinal partitions are adapted to be held in spaced,vertical` disposition on the platform for intermittent feeding into themachine for assembly with the partitions being fabricated by themachine. tions is shown in detail in Fig. 6, and is indicated by thenumeral 11. It is a thin strip of paper board material of a suitableheight and length, i

and is provided with spaced-apart slots 18 extending from its top edgeto an intermediate portion of the partition with'the slots beingenlarged, as at 19,at the outer ends thereof. In actual practice inorder to insure continuous feeding of partitions itis desirable to mountsaid partitions 11 so that with respect to each strip 15 and itssupporting pawl 16, there is a partition 11 having its outer endoverlapped by a subsequent partition, as best shown in Figs. 3, 10 and12. The lower edges of the partitions,

as thus disposed, rest on the stock of the respective strips 15laterally of the slots in said strips.

Slidably mounted within the slot of each strip 15 is an advancing bar 88of considerably less Ieng'th than its slot. g Each bar carries severalyielding grippers 8|, whose linger portions are urged by springs 82 intorm engagement with;

face portions of the supported partitions 11.l

Each bar 88 also carries a depending yoke 83,

which straddles and is moved by a transverse connection 84. Thetransverse connection 84 is moved forwardly and rearwardly relative tothe platform 69, to thereby move the bars 88 in their slotted strips 15with resultant intermittent advancing movements of the partitions 11, byan upper, transverse rock shaft 85. Said rock shaft has fast thereon apair of cranks 86 whose free ends are pivotally connected'with asuitable portion of the connection 84. One end portion of the upper rockshaft 85 has fast thereon a pinion 81 meshing with the teeth of alongitudinal rack bar 88. Said rack bar is slidably supported in One ofsaid preformed parti-` pivotally mounted on a forward tside portion ofthe casing, as at 96. Another arm of the bellcrank lever is pivotallyconnected with one arm of the upper bell-crank lever 98 by a bar 91,while still another arm of the lower bellcrank lever 95 is pivotallyconnected with the other arm of the upper bell-crank lever 98 by a bar98. Hence, through the mechanism described, the advancing bars 88 of thepartition feeding platform are intermittently reciprocated forwardly andrearwardly. On the movements toward the machine the grippers 8| areeffective to advance the engaged partitions a distance equal to thedistance between slots therein. On the reverse movements of the bars 88the grippers slide rearwardly on the faces of the partitions to take newholds or bites thereon and suitable means may be employed for holdingthel advanced partitions in their new positions and against rearwardslippage. After the innermost partitions are sufficiently far advanced,the grippers will engage and commence moving the rear overlappingpartitions and by inserting overlapping partitions from time to time thefeeding can be kept continuous. The rear ends of the overlappingpartitions can be gauged against an angle bar 99. This angle bar 99 canbe'rnov1 able longitudinally of the machine either manually or bysuitable mechanical means.

Operation of the entire machine is controlled by an operator stationedat the front end thereof in a position to manipulate a foot pedal |08with his foot. Said foot pedal is mounted fast on a rod I8! journaled inbearing brackets |02. One end portion of said rod carries fast thereonan arm |83 adapted to engage the projecting end of an elongated,longitudinal clutch controlling rod |84 which is yieldingly slidablymounted within the/lower portion of the casing 28.

With particular reference to the clutch mechanism, attention is directedto Figs. 3, '7, 8 and 9 wherein it'will be noted that the shaft 26 whichis to be driven, when desired, freely carries the large gear 25. Keyedto said shaft adjacent the gear is a clutch disc |85. The face of thegear 25 adjacent the disc |85 is formed withan annular rib |86interrupted by a pair of spaced, inturned, yielding flanges |81. Theperiphery of the disc is inwardly spaced from the rib |86 and betweenthe rib |86 and said periphery there is a band |88 of friction materialsuch as brake lining or the like. v

Adjacent the outer face of the disc |85 there is splined on the shaftfor longitudinal sliding and turning movements a cylindrical member |89having a frustroconical inner end H8.. Fast on said shaft and spacedfrom the other end of the member |89 is a collar |l|. Springs ||2 areinterposed between the adjacent ends of the members |89 and I|| so as toresist Inovement of the member' |89 in one direction. A peripheralportion of the disc |85 is provided with a bored boss 3 rotatablyreceiving a pin l ||4. One end portion of said pin has fast thereon asquared block H5 to lodge in the space between the yielding flanges |01in several positions. The other end portion of said pin has securedthereto the collar portion of an arm I6. The free end of said arm hasadjustably extended there through a follower ||l to ride on either thecylindrical or the tapered portions of the member |09.

It will be noted that the inner end of the clutch controlling rod |04 isslidably extended into the rear Wall of the casing 20. Near saidextremity said rod carries a collar ||8 to confine between it and therear wall of the casing a coiled spring i i9. Rearwardly of the shaft 26an inner side wall portion of the casing carries a bracket |20 with alongitudinal slot therein which slidably receives the T-head of avertical arm |2I. The lower portion of said arm is affixed to the rod|04, as at |22, and the portion of the arm which is adjacent thecylindrical member |09 is recessed, as at |23, and a face portionthereof is also provided with a tapered, curved plate |263. Said plateis adapted to engage, under certain conditions, a pin projectingradially from said member |00.

The operation of the clutch mechanism speciflcally described is asfollows: When the operator does not depress the pedal |00 the machinewill idle and this is the condition shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and l0, inwhich case, the spring ||9 on the rod |00 urges said rod and the partscarried thereby forwardly or to the left relative to the drawings.Assuming that operation of the various mecha.- nisms is desired, it isthen necessary for the operator to depress the foot pedal |00, whereuponthe controlling rod |04 will be pushed to the right, compressing thespring l0, as in Fig. 9. lin the idling position previously mentioned',the pin |25 'was engaged with the arm plate |24, as in Fig. l0, wherebythe cylindrical member |09 was held in the shaft longitudinally to theright and spaced from the clutch disc and with the follower i7 riding onthe tapered end ||0. However, upon depression of the foot pedal andmovement of the rod |04 to the right the arm |2|, sliding in the bracket|20, will move so as to disengage the pin- 25 from the raised plate |20.Therefore the springs I|2 will then force the cylindrical member |09 tothe left (relative to the drawings) on its shaft, and the follower ill,will then ride upon the high or cylindrical surface of the member |09.This change in the disposition of the follower will pivotally move thearm H0 and shaft llll a sufficient distance so that the block H5 willassume the angular disposition of Fig. 8 to spread the ears |01 andthereby apply the clutch engagement between the members 25 and |05.Inasmuch as the gear 25 is continuously revolved by connection with thedrive shaft 22, this driving force, when the clutch is applied, will betransmitted through the member |05 to the shaft 26 from whence themovements for the various mechanism previous- 1y described are derived.

The machine Will operats as long as the foot pedal |00 is maintained ina depressed condition. If it is desired to stop themachine, or if theoperator leaves it, the pedal |00 will be released and the rod I0@ willautomatically move to the position of Fig. 10. This movement of the rodmoves the arm |2| so as to engage the pin |25 with the raised plate |20to spread the cylindrical member |09 relative to the member |05 andcausing the follower to then drop onto the tapered surface H0. Then theblock l5 will be turned so that its side edges are parallel with theyielding ears |01, and said ears will contract and spread the brakematerial |08 to disengage members 25 and |05 whereupon the drive willnot be acting on the shaft 26.

Aside from the specific mode of controlling operation of the machine, aslast described, the machine for the fabrication of partitions ofpredetermined sizes and compartments for cartons is susceptible ofminute adjustments in a variety of ways. It is, of course, recognizedthat the slotting dies, the feed rollers, the strip severing knife, andthe preformed partition feeding platform be arranged to perform theirfunctions in perfect timed sequence. The various adjust ments forattaining these desired ends have heretofore been described and are alsoobvious from the drawings.

In setting up the machine for a sequence of operations, it must ofcourse be initially determined what size partitions are desired and itmust be determined the depth of slots desired therein, the number ofslots and the spacing arrangement between the slots of a series.Suitable punches for this purpose are then inserted inthe punch head 21and the partitions to be slotted and severed must correspond in theseparticulars with the same of the preformed partitions with which theyare to be engaged, if the machine is to be used for the completeoperations including assembly.

The sheet material 35 is positioned in the machine in the mannerpreviously described and so n that a forward extent of the same isengaged between the feed rollers 36. Thereupon the operator depressesthe foot pedal |00 and by means of the clutch mechanism the shaft 26 isset into rotation. |Ilirough the rotation of the shaft 26 and thevarious connections associated therewith the mechanisms are set intooperation in the proper timing relationship. The punch head 2lreciprocates to punch a transverse series of spaced slots in the sheetmaterial while the feed rollers 30 are inactive. At the same time, ifthe sheet is sufflciently far progressed, the severing knife 4| will bereciprocated to cut the sheet transversely to form a finished transversepartition strip. During receding reciprocations of the punch and thesevering knife, or while the same are inactive, the feed rollers becomeactive to advance the sheet to a new position for the slotting of arearward portion of the sheet and for the severing of an advanced stripportion thereof.

This sequence of operations takes place if the machine is used solelyfor the purpose of punching and severing partition forming strips from asheet of material. The strips thus formed may provide the transversepartitions in a completed assembly and one of said strips is shown indetail in Fig. 5 and is represented by the numeral |26 with spaced slots|21 therein.

Considerably greater usefulness of the machine resides in its ability tonot only punch and sever partitions but to also actually spaceablyassemble the partitions as they are being formed with preformedpartitions to provide complete carton interiors or dividers. Whenoperated in the last mentioned manner, the preformed sets of partitionsmay be made on the machine in the manner last described, or they may beformed on another machine of a substantially similar character. However,during the formation of the new sets of partitions on the machine asdescribed, the preformed partitions must be available, and the same arearranged on the partition feeding platform 69 in vertical dispositionand in spaced relationship in the manner previously described.

"As will be recalled, the feeding mechanism on platform as described, aseach finished strip of the sheet material 35 advances to dependingvposition, it is in vertical position and at right angles to thepartitions 11, but its slots coincide with the partitions 11 as spaced,and one of each of the latter partitions slides into a slot |21 of thepartition |26. By thetime the depending end of the sheet material 35 hasbeen completely severedby the knife 4| it is in fully loweredpositionand is then arranged so that its slots are' in coincidence withthe slots 18 of the preformed partitions 11 there adjacent. In thismanner one completely formed and severed partition |26 is mounted in acorrect position on a row of partitions 11 and thereafter as the feedingplatform steppedly advances a new formed partition |26 will beassociated with the series of partitions 11 at each row of slots 18.

When assembly of all of the partitions required by a set of partitions11 has been made, one complete carton interior is thus formed andfinished and the completed device then slides off on to an inclinedgangway |28 and leaves the machine.

Since the preformed partitions 11 are kept advancing as previouslydescribed, in this manner operations relative to not only one boxinterior but to a plurality of `the same is rendered continuous.

From the foregoing description, it will appear that the 'improved cartonpartition fabricating machine is of simple construction, operatesautomatically and is extremely expeditious, permits the formation of.slotted partitions of any desired size, and furthermore, provides forthe automatic assembly of one set of partitions with those of anotherset to provide complete carton interiors or Subdividers. The machine isalso of novel construction and is well adapted for the purposesdescribed. I

What is claimed as the invention is:

l. In a partition fabricating machine, in combination, sheet feedingrollers intermittently rotatable, intermittently and jointly operatingreciprocable sheet slotting punches, an intermittently reciprocableknife to sever slotted portions of the sheet into partition strips, andmeans for supporting and spacedly feeding sets of established lengthedand previously formed partitions into assemblable relation with thefirst-mentioned partition strips.

2. In a partition fabricating machine, in cornbination, sheet feedingrollers intermittently rotatable, intermittently and jointly operatingre` partitions of established length, means associated with saidplatform for advancing said set of partitions simultaneously and instages without bending or deflection as to planes, means forsuccessivelyforming slotted, secondary partition strips from sheetmaterial, and means for projecting the latter partitions as they areformed into successive transverse, spaced, `interlocking engagement withthe partitions of the first set. y

4. In a partition fabricating machine, a platform provided withadjustable means for spacedly supporting in parallel relationship asetof preformed and severed partitions of established length, meansassociated'with said platform for advancing said set of partitionssimultaneously along rectilinealpaths and in stages of a desired length,means for successively forming slotted, secondary partition strips fromsheet material, and means for projecting the latter partitions as theyare formed into successive transverse, spaced, interlocking engagementwith the partitions of the first set.

5. In a partition fabricating machine, a platform provided withpreformed partition supporting devices, said devices being arranged toreceive and hold a plurality of severed and cornpleted partitions inupright, spaced and parallel relationship, means connected to saidsupporting devices to simultaneously advance the partitions thereon instages and Without deflection, means for successively forming slotted,secondary partition strips from sheet material, and means forindividually projecting the latter partitions into vertical positions inplanes at right angles to and intersecting the planes of thefirst-mentioned partitions so that the secondary partitions areA insuccessive, spaced, interlocking engagement with the partitions of theother set.

6. In a partition fabricating machine, a'platform provided withpreformed partition supporting devices, said devices being arranged tohold a plurality of severed and completed partitions in ving means forsuccessively forming and projecting transverse partition strips intoassemblable positions, a vertically adjustable platform for spacedlysupporting and feeding preformed partitions into engaged relation withthev first-mentioned partition strips.

8. In a partition fabricatingv machine including means for successivelyforming and projecting transverse partition strips into assemblablepositions, a platform for spacedly supporting and feeding preformedpartitions into engaged relation with the first-mentioned partitionstrips, vertical supporting plates on said platform against which thepreformed strips are slidably disposed, and reciprocating means on saidplatform for engaging and intermittently advancing said supportedstrips.

vupright, spaced and parallel relationship, means f 9. In a partitionfabricating machine includsaid supported strips, said reciprocatingmeans including bars and yielding ngers carried by the bars, the fingersengaging the strips upon in- Ward reciprocations of the bars anddisengaging the strips upon outward reciprocations of the 5 bars.

DANIEL RAILING VAIL. CHARLES G. DAU'BER.

